Curious if anyone else has any long term feedback on the DC pumps that skimz is using?. My first pump lasted a little less than a year before it died. The merchant was good and replaced it but the replacement also died within a year. Pump only has a one year warranty so I am out of luck there but that still doesn't excuse poor reliability. Its a shame since the skimmer itself is good. The pump is external so there are other optikns. Has anyone else had a similiar or different experience with them?
Skimz skimmer club
- Thread starter NyReefNoob
- Start date
clittrell
Member
I've had a SKIMZ SM253 Monzter for 5 months and so far (knock on wood) it's been the best skimmer I've owned. Adjusting for skimmate quality is great. I can get a nice thick black sludge without getting too thick, or too thin. The massive 2 gallon collection cup is necessary. I'm not using as much bio-pellet as I though I would with the amount of nutrients I have in the tank, so I know the skimmer is killing it big time. The DC pump is nice on the Apex, slowing it down during feed times, then ramping it back up 30 minutes later.
I know this was a while ago but how did you do the connection to apex?
Thanks.
myram
#347, 19 years
Just can't get this skimmer tuned in. I have to have the valve almost fully closed to get the water in the neck. I have the skimmer in 9" of water. Any thoughts?
Close your air intake off completely and watch the level rise up. Then open it about 1/4 turn and leave it. Then use the output knob to adjust the water level.
It takes some tuning, but once you find the sweet spot lock it down and leave it.........these skimmers rock.
Happy Black Friday. I've had my skimz sm 203 for a year and decided to take it apart and clean it. So, how do you get the front facing off of the impeller housing on the vsc 5000 pump. The are no screws, only side slots. I'm afraid to just pry it off with a screwdriver and break the plastic. Any thoughts?
SoloGarth
Active member
Just got my SM203. Beautiful piece of equipment. I did realize that I might have ordered the wrong size when it arrived. It makes the Deltec AP600 it replaced look like a toy. Hopefully it is not too large for my system but I couldn't pass on the Black Friday deal. Been running about a day and I've been fiddling with it. Dead silent unlike the deltec which was the loudest thing in the room.
Yeah the pictures don't do these skimmers any justice. I received my SN123 yesterday expecting it to be a lot smaller even smaller than the sca-301 it was replacing. But it actually turned out to be a lot bigger.
I originally had reservations about getting the skimz after reading some posts about them being flimsy and and easy to break. But it felt nice and solid to me. Looks like the only way to break it is if you really crank the screws down like if you were putting a car tire on.
This morning it was already collecting nice skim with a nice dry foam head.
I originally had reservations about getting the skimz after reading some posts about them being flimsy and and easy to break. But it felt nice and solid to me. Looks like the only way to break it is if you really crank the screws down like if you were putting a car tire on.
This morning it was already collecting nice skim with a nice dry foam head.
DamonG
New member
Yes, they are awesome "big" skimmers.. My buddy even said when he saw it said " damn, that thing is insanely huge, how did you get it under there" I, like you guys started to not order mine based off some of the comments on here, but I'm extremely glad i did! Mine has been going like crazy ever since the day i got it months ago..
They really are beautiful as far as their quality and durability.. No, they don't have all the metal line some of the others, but i actually like that.. In my head, less to worry about..
And oh, the thing about them being too big, my 251 is rated according to skimz specs for a 793 gallon tank.. But brs rates it for a 293 gallon.. Mine has never stopped cranking on my 210 twv.. I do run pellets and feed heavily though.. But it keeps the tank clean, that's for sure.. I think that, since it's said that they(skimmers) only pull 30% of organics, that a somewhat larger(not insanely) skimmer is still well applicable, even today..
And these things are so dead silent that is insane! I don't think I have ever had a skimmer this quiet that performed this well.. Actually, only one other brand of skimmer has performed this well for me.. They really are beasts!
They really are beautiful as far as their quality and durability.. No, they don't have all the metal line some of the others, but i actually like that.. In my head, less to worry about..
And oh, the thing about them being too big, my 251 is rated according to skimz specs for a 793 gallon tank.. But brs rates it for a 293 gallon.. Mine has never stopped cranking on my 210 twv.. I do run pellets and feed heavily though.. But it keeps the tank clean, that's for sure.. I think that, since it's said that they(skimmers) only pull 30% of organics, that a somewhat larger(not insanely) skimmer is still well applicable, even today..
And these things are so dead silent that is insane! I don't think I have ever had a skimmer this quiet that performed this well.. Actually, only one other brand of skimmer has performed this well for me.. They really are beasts!
SoloGarth
Active member
Hey so what speed is everyone running their pumps at? I have mind at 3. My thinking being that since it is (BRS) rated for a 190 and is on my 120 that that would work well. I have the air valve closed most of the way which is creating very fine uniform bubbles (looks painted white) and the gate valve closed to skim wet. Seems to be working well so far.
SoloGarth
Active member
I have to say I am also relieved that they have changed the impeller design. I saw the reviews stating that the pumps had failed but purchased the skimmer anyway. Since BRS is providing warranty support and I trust them. Also when things like this happen the company usually makes changes to correct the issue which is what has happened here. Just went through this with my gyres. It is understandably difficult to foresee these problems for a company without delaying product release for a year+ to test all components for durability. Although if they did do that it would be great.
I am running full speed on the pump. The air i disconnected from silencer and hooked up to a 15'x3/8" Mur-Lok that goes outside the house. Seems to be working fine and very small painted like bubbles. but I am also only in 6.5" of water
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SoloGarth
Active member
Have you noticed any temp problems doing this? I notice you are up in my area where it gets very cold. I have the skimmer pull air from the outside during the summer but disconnect in the fall so in not pulling cold air into the tank/house.
I like the idea of using the push connect fitting. I also really like the skimz silencer design. I may try to fit an air hose to that so I can have both.
Reeftub
New member
I have a 190 sps tank with 5 tangs, 5 chromis, 2 anthias, 1wrasse, 1 nemo and some lps and I run bio pellets. I use the dc sm253 and works great
I've had it running 1yr 6m and love it.
RobTheReefer
Moved Elsewhere
I'm in. My skimz monzter sm203 dc came today. The venturi wouldn't go into the pump inlet. I had to use some wet/dry sandpaper and then put the pump inlet into boiling water. The venturi slipped in, and now it's right as rain. Can't wait until it's broken in. My tank is at a stand still. I can't feed it. If I wave a piece of nori over the top of the tank, the rocks get covered in algae. Between this skimmer and growing chaeto, I have to be able to feed again. Sucks having a decade old tank.
DamonG
New member
As suggested above, the 253,251 or one of the other shape in this line..
I'm running the 251(dual ac pump) on my 180 dt(210 total water volume) with great success!
SoloGarth
Active member
What is failing exactly? The driver? The power supply? Motor block? It seems it is not the impeller as has been discussed before if you are still using it.
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